Update: Rep. Scott DesJarlais sees support climb

MURFREESBORO — U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais touts re-election support of many people who backed his Republican rival Jim Tracy two years ago.

The incumbent congressman from South Pittsburg edged state Sen. Tracy of Shelbyville by 38 votes before defeating Democrat Lenda Sherrell in the general election.

DesJarlais held a fund-raising event Thursday night with a guest list that included Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess, former state Rep. Joe Carr of the Lascassas community, gun manufacturer Ronnie Barrett, former Murfreesboro Mayor Richard Reeves and his son, Shane Reeves, Ole South Properties home building founder John Floyd, former Rutherford County Republican Party Chairwoman Lou Ann Zelenik and Robert Adams, the board chairman and chief executive officer of National Healthcare Corporation in Murfreesboro.

"Most of this list was on Tracy's fund-raising list two years ago," DesJarlais said during a Thursday phone interview. "I think it will dispel any notion that Rutherford County is not going to get behind me in this election."

When it comes to the next election, DesJarlais has catching up to do with rival Grant Starrett of Murfreesboro, according to Federal Election Commission financial disclosure reports for 2015.

Starrett is a lawyer who grew up in California before he moved to Tennessee to attend Vanderbilt law school in Nashville. He raised $691,285 in 2015, which more than doubles the $332,611 that DesJarlais collected.

The incumbent spent $116,747 on his campaign in 2015 while Starrett reported expenditures of $189,073.

Starrett, who also loaned his campaign $226,561, also had more cash in hand at the end of 2015 with $728,773, which more than tripled the $240,802 reported by DesJarlais.

"Grant Starrett and our team have knocked on tens of thousands of doors across the district," Schultz said through a Monday email to The Daily News Journal. "We've also raised six times as much money from grassroots donors across the district compared to DesJarlais. At the same time, DesJarlais has been taking tens of thousands of dollars from special interests in Washington, D.C., cozying up to the Washington establishment, and voters are sick of it."

The incumbent said he's not worried about Starrett's fund-raising advantage.

"I think that Jim Tracy out spent me five to one, and Lenda Sherrell out spent me three to one, so I'm used to running a frugal campaign," DesJarlais said. "Fundraising has never been my priority. It's a necessary evil. I always feel if you do your job people will reward you."

DesJarlais said he expects to have more money for this year's campaign, including an expected $75,000 from about 100 people who attended the Thursday event.

The fund-raising event took place at the "Chateau Charlemagne" home of Denny Hastings in Bedford County. Hastings has developed and built many homes in Rutherford County and used to live in a large house on East Main Street in Murfreesboro.

Hastings acknowledged during a phone interview that he backed Tracy in 2014.

"We were close to him," said Hastings, who also confirmed his support in 2016 for DesJarlais. "He's the man now, and we have to back him. He has a very conservative voting record. He's more in line with what I believe in and what the country needs. He just has conservative values, which goes along with a lot of the people in this part of the country. I think it's time when we all have to look inward at ourselves and try to do what's best during trying times like we have now."

Former state Rep. Carr said fundraising is important for the congressman.

"It's wise that DesJarlais is not taking anything for granted in holding this fundraising event and campaigning hard because this is not the year to take anything for granted politically," said Carr, noting that he could have used more money in his unsuccessful but competitive Republican primary against U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander in 2014. "We were literally out of money with 10 days to go. We spent $1 million. He spent over $7 million."

When it comes to the county mayor, Burgess said he has the responsibility to support "our elected officials" because it's important for them to listen and respond to the needs of Rutherford County.

"I personally will support our sitting elected officials, including Mr. DesJarlais," Burgess said.